Cornwell hoping to play football at Norman North his senior year

On Tuesday, June 4, the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association (OSSAA) held a meeting to hear from David Cornwell and his parents on why Cornwell should be eligible to play football at Norman North High School during his senior year.

Five minutes into the Cornwells’ portion of the meeting, the OSSAA board tabled hearing the appeal and instead offered up a staff investigator and outside counsel to review the Cornwells’ packet of additional documentation requested by internal staff as a part of today’s hearing.

The internal investigator and OSSAA’s outside legal counsel proceeded to question the family for 90 minutes without the presence of OSSAA board members. OSSAA has tabled the Cornwells’ appeal and will review again during a special board meeting at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 12.

OSSAA has previously denied Cornwell’s request to be eligible to play his senior year, so the family made an appeal to be granted a hardship waiver. Cornwell was unable to complete the fall 2011 semester of school in Florida because his mother, who intended to homeschool him that semester, was suffering through an unexpected, debilitating illness that could have taken her life. During that time, school and football took a backseat as Cornwell cared for his ailing mother.

"It was a really tough time for my whole family," he said. "My mother could have died, and that’s something I hope nobody has to deal with, let alone be punished for. At that time, nothing mattered except taking care of her, and that meant that school and football took a backseat to family. We talked with OSSAA administrative staff and their attorney today for 90 minutes, and we answered all of their questions truthfully and completely. I am confused why we need to delay another week when we clearly meet their written guidelines."

The rules of the OSSAA on page 76 clearly state that “after the student has begun the ninth grade, an exception allowing a student the opportunity to participate in athletics in an additional semester or school year may only be granted upon sufficient proof that circumstances arose beyond the control of the student and the student's parents, such as a serious and debilitating injury or illness, which prevented the student from completing academic work necessary to advance to the next grade level and make normal progress toward graduation.”

Cornwell said that his situation clearly fits within those guidelines, since his mother’s serious illness was beyond the control of him or his parents, and he was not able to make academic progress toward graduation during that time. Cornwell said that he has done nothing wrong and simply wants the chance to experience his senior year with his fellow teammates at Norman North.

“I’ve loved this game since the first moment I threw a football,” he said. “I am blessed to have the chance to play with a great team and have a wonderful coach, and I want to continue to play football, even after high school. This ruling could really impact my future, since most of the colleges that are recruiting me have said that their offers depend on me playing my senior year.”

The Cornwells said they hope the OSSAA will see that David clearly qualifies for the hardship waiver.

“He’s a great kid, and he’s done nothing wrong,” said Ron Cornwell, David’s father. “We are confused and hurt that OSSAA might rule against him and against the guidelines of their own Constitution. We’ll keep fighting this in order to help our son get back to playing football, which he loves so much. We’re trying to do what’s best for him, as any parent would.”

Schools that have been recruiting Cornwell include the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, the University of Tulsa, University of Alabama, Virginia Tech University, Auburn University, University of Tennessee and Notre Dame.

The wrestling championships took place over the course of three days at the "Big House" from Thursday-Saturday. Hundreds of wrestlers competed until there was only one in each weight class for each attending to claim the right to be called the state champion.